Halifax JD268 damaged in the air, landed at Skipton on Swale airfield.

On the night of 25th / 26th November 1943 the crew of this 429 Squadron aircraft took off from Leeming airfield at 23.34hrs to undertake an operational flight to bomb Frankfurt. At 00.50hrs and while flying at 14,000 feet the Halifax was involved in a collision with another large aircraft, believed to have been another Halifax. Halifax JD268 received damage, the crew did not continue towards the target so jettisoned the bomb load and turned for Yorkshire. They appear to have been diverted away from their home airfield of Leeming and they landed at Skipton on Swale airfield at 03.14hrs. The identity of the aircraft that collided with Halifax JD268 is not known.

Pilot - P/O James Atkins RCAF (J/14000).

Flight Engineer - Sgt J Robson RAFVR (1625125).

Air Bomber - P/O Joseph Lloyd Widdis RCAF (J/23742).

Navigator - P/O R J Haworth RCAF (J/21640).

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt W H Griffiths RAFVR (1046452).

Air Gunner - Sgt Arthur Ronald Woolsey RCAF (R/197583).

Air Gunner - Sgt T F Barley RCAF (R/183955).

This crew were posted in to 429 Squadron on 24th October 1944 and finished their Tour by early July 1944. Atkins and Haworth were awarded the DFC while Woolsey was awarded the DFM while with 429 Squadron.

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